Theatrical device



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L. LEVY THEATRICAL DEVICE 3 Sheds-Sheet Original Filed Dec. :504 1931 L. LEVY THEATRICAL DEVICE;

original Filed. vee. 3o. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 tionA with my 'A invention.

Patented July 8, 1924.

- LEON LEVY, 0F NEW YORK, N'. Y.

THEATRICAL DEVICE.

Application led December 3Q, `'1921, Serial No. 525,983. Renewed January 9, 1924. l

To all whom t may concern: i

Beit known that I, LEON LEVY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New YOrk,'haVe invent-ed certa-in new and useful Improvement-s in Theatrical Devices; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this speciication.

My invention is a theatrical device for the amusementV of audiences, an object being to seemingly project a person through a solid.

Another object is to construct aV device so simple in` appearance that it may be inspected. without4 disclosing itsv operative parts. Still another Objectis to construct my device with a minimum number of parts.

In the .construction of my invention I have found it most desirable to use wood and 'steel but it will beunderstood that I `do not restrict myself to these metals or materials or to the exact form herein set Y forth.

Referring to the drawingszfFig.l 1, de-

notes an elevation of my. invention, partly brokenaway. Fig. 2, is. a side elevationof Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is aside elevation in cross section showing the cannon' support 1n a raised position. Fig. 4, is a like View, sho-wing the cannon support inthe lowered position with .thel cannon attached. Fig. 5, is an enlarged segment of the cross section of the Vcarmen support shown in .Fig .3. Figs. 6 and 7 denote means by which dummy .cannon which may be employed in connecl. Referringfmore particularly .to the `drawings ':--1,V denotes a double faced frame or moulding. betweentheI uprightsy of which are positioned counterweight boxes,v 2 for the'- reception of counter. weights?) having atltaclied thereto'sash cords :4 whichV pass o-veifV :pu'lleysfpositioned near the top of the' frame.` The other end of the sashfcords are securely fastened. in recesses 6 formed "in" a steel or othersolid .plate 7 which slides like the sash in a window frame. The edge of this lplate n'rests againstthe respective sides" parts. edges of plates9, 10,111 and 12, thereby giving the effectl of one continuous. sheet ofv part of thisspecification of the counter weight boxes 2. This plate 7 'has a hole 8 positioned outof center therein substantially divide said lframe into three These strips13. cover the exposed steel positioned in frame 1. This effect remains the same regardless of the position of plate 7. The said strips 13 are. also? adapted for attaching there-to pieces of paper or other pliable material, which will be hereafter described. Y

A bar which we will hereafter call Vthe cannon support-.14 is attached rigidly to solid plate 7 by means of bolts or studs 15,

positioning said support .parallel to and 'sub-v starrtia-lly distant from said solid plate 7 thus allowing the upperportion of cannon support 14 Vwhen raised to pass over upper front strip 13. In vthe cannon support 14 is an openingor hole 16 which is in continuous registration with hole`8 of the solid plate 7, that is to say these openings are always moved up( and down together though it is apparent that at times the plate9 isbetween with rubber or otherV elastic material, slashed torforma` star trap 17. A like opening 32 isjformed in the dummy cannon support 25 to be (more .fully yreferred to in the latter formed around the star trap 17 projecting outwardly and. forminga cannon muzzle housing.

In the back of the cannon support 14 is posed, two on the front and two on theV back of frame 1 and. are so positioned as to Vholes 16 and 8j This opening 16 is covered;k

A. flange 1s is,

formed a longitudinal recess forming a hous- .ing 19 to conceal two spring rollers 2O and 21 lwhich are horizontallyl disposed therein. These rollers-are` similarto the ordinary sash rollviv-rs.` Roller 20 carries a web or shade Vof paper` v5Oofr` otherpliab-le material, one

edge' o-f"'.wliic h is'V permanently tacked or otherwise 'securely fastened to theroller and the other'edge fastened to upper front strip 13. this p'aperl is a hole lwhich regis ters with hole VSand opening 16Nwhenvthe f :cannon "support 14 is in thevposition shown sa.,y

in Fig. 4. Roller 21 has attached thereto a short shade or web of cloth or other inaterial 22, the outer edge of which is'attached to a slat 23 in such a manner that only the slat is visible to the audience. This slat 23 extends the full length of the roller 21 so that its ends are concealed behind the cannon support 14 'as shown in Fig. 1. A. paper 24 which is not the length of slat 23 may be attached to this Slat the other edge of the paper being attached to lower front strip 13.

.It is .apparent that when cannon support 14iislowered'that steel plate 7, which is integral therewith through studs 15 is also lowered. The lowering of the cannon support 14 causes roller 20 to unroll and roller 21 to roll up slat 23 and the paper 24 thereto attached. From the audience it appears that paper 50 and the 'paper 24 are but one sheet of paper andthat the vcannon support 14 is being lowered over this singlev sheet of gil the back of frame 1 is a dummy cannon support 25 which is removably attached and may be secured to the frame 1 in positions corresponding to the raised and lowered Vpositions of cannon support 14. The vattaching means is shown in Flgs. 6 and 7 key holes denoted by 26 and catches by 27. The said dummy cannon support 25 is sinnlar to cannon support 14 but does not contain rollers 2O and 21 nor the housing 19,

lotherwise it is similar in appearance and may be detached and passed to the audience for examination. Y l Y.

In constructing my devlce the sliding or I center plate 7 is highly polished so that its vluc movement up and down is not apparent t0;

the audience.

When the cannon support 14 is moved down the muzzle of cannon 28 is attached to flange 18 by hasps 30. As shown in Fig. 6 the muzzle of the cannon 28 the hole 51 in aper 50 the hole 8 in steel plate 7 and the iiole 32 in dummy cannon support 25 are in line. It will also be noted that the paper 29 V`is intact. It is this paper which is torn when a person is projected Jfrom the cannon 28 as explained hereafter. This paper 29 is attached to the top and bottom strips or bars 13 on the back of frame 1.

The frame 1 is mounted in a stand `denoted by 31.

Operation.

The dummy cannon support is positionedin the center ofthe frame, with the cannon attached thereto. Thecannon is disconnected are placed in position. The cannon supporty is lowered unrolling paperT 5 0 and rolling Vof a standga two-faced frame mounted on said stand; two counterweight boxes positioned in the sides of said frame; counterweights operating in said boxes; a slidable plate mounted in said frame and provided with an eccentrichole.; cords connecting said sliding platev with said weights; two plates rigidlyv mounted in ea-chside of said frame'adaptedto conceal the upper and lower portions` of saidsliding plate respecf tively; a bar or cannon support rigidly attached-to said sliding plate and provided with a hole registering with the hole .in said Slidingl plate, and a star -trap Vadapted to conceal saidy holes; twoyrollers horizontally mounted in said bar or cannon support; two strips, rigidly positioned horizontally. across each face of said frame; two flexible webs adapted for attachment to two of said strips and said rollers'on` one side of said frame; a third web adapted to be attachedbetween the other two strips on the other side ofk said frame; and a dummy bar orgcannon support detachably mounted on the back of saidframe and providedl with a hole suitable, for registration with the holes in. said sliding plate and said cannon support,`and Y a star trap adapted to conceal said holes..

Y 2..In a theatrical'device, an `upstanding frame; Ya plate provided with a hole and adapted to slide in said frame; a bar or cannon supportprovided with a hole, fixed to one side of said plate;,`asecond baror'` cannon.. support adjacent .the opposite side of said plate, detachably mounted upon .said

-raine and. having therein a holeV adapted to V re`, ;1ster with the holes insaid plate and said first support; and means for hiding the hole in said plate.`

3. In a theatrical device, lan upright i Yiframe; a sliding' plate provided with a hole,

and adaptedV toslide :in Vsaid frame.; two platesrigidly. mounted in each-side of said frame adaptedto conceal the upper and lower portions of said slidingplaterespectively and also adapted to conceal the hole in said sliding plate.; a baror cannon su port provided witha hole, kfixed to one sic e of said platega second bar or cannon supfp'ort adj acent theopposite side of said plate,

detachably mounted upon said frame and vhavingtherein a hole adaptedto register f kwith the holes in `said slidingplate andsaid first support ;l` and means,1i0r,..h;idi`ngA said holes.` Y a 4. In atheatrical device, an upstanding frame;l a plate provided with a ,holeiandfwf adapted V,to slide in `'said frame; aj bali-gr cannon support provided with a hole, fixed to one side of said plate; two rollers ooncealed in said support and adapted toroll and unroll alternately; two webs adapted to appear as one web, provided to wind and unwind upon said rollers respectively; a second bar or cannon support adjacent the opposite side of said plate, detachaloly mounted upon said frame and having therein a hole adapted to register with the holes in said sliding late and said first support; and means for li-iding said holes.

5. In a theatrical device, an upright frame; a plate provided with a hole, adapted to slide in said frame; a bar or cannon support provided with a hole, fixed to one side of said plate; a second bar or cannon support detaohaloly mounted on the back of said frame and provided with a hole; star trapsA mounted in the holes of said lirst and second supports and adapted to conceal the hole in said plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signature.

LEON LEVY. 

